Aerial device.



PATENTED FEB. 17. 1903. 0. A. NEEDHAM. AERIAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1902.

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No. 720,838; I PATENTED FEB.1'7, 1908.

G. NEEDHAM.

AERIAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27 1902.

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{PATENT I CHARLES A. NEEDHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. I

AERIAL DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nol 720,838, dated February17, 1903.

Application filed May 27, 1902.

boat fitted to travel along the said way or track.

A further, object is to provide a device of the above character in whichthe elevated structure comprises a straight track, a zigzag track, andturn-tables at the opposite ends of the structure for shifting theho'atfrom one track to the other track.

A still further object is to provide certain improvements in theconstruction, form, and arrangement of the several parts, whe reby thesails of the boat may be manipulated to cause thewind to propel the samealong the elevated structure, the boat being fitted to travel either inan upright position or in an scale.

inclined position, according to the direction of the wind and thestrength of the same.

' A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents my improved aerialdevice in side elevation, a portion only of the elevated structure beingshown. Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the device on a reduced Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section through the elevated Way or track, the boatbeing sho'wnjn endfelevation in itsverti'cal position Fig. 4 is asimilar view showing the boat in its tilted position. Fig. 5 is an,enlarged side viewof the bpat and a part of modified form of ievatedstructure, aportion of the track DB1, ng broken awayitol show thearrangement of the antifrictionm ollers upon which the boat rests. Fig.ii is .a detail vertical transverse sectionshowing the b'oat in fulllines in itsverticalposition and in dotted lines in its tiltedpositions, and Fig. 7

is a detail view of a modified form of-way or track.

The elevated structure which I have shown herein comprises the followingparts: A

Serial No. 109,149- (Nomodel-l I straight way or track 1 audit zigzagway or track 2 are provided, which ways or tracks are supported at thedesired distance from the ground by posts or pillars 3, arranged atsuit-' able intervals. The opposite ends of the tracks 1 and 2 arebrought in close proximture I provide turn-tables 4 and 5, having tracks6 and 7, which may" be rocked for 1 or the track 2, as may be desired.

In the form shown in Figs, 1 to 4, inclusive, the boat is denoted by 8,and it is provided with a mast'9 and suitable and 11.

The boat is fitted to travel. along the elevated structure by thefollowing arrangement: Each side of the'boat is provided with aplurality of pairsof upper and lower rollers 12 and 13, spaced 2. shortdistance apart in position to engage the upper or lower sides of therails of the track. In the present instance I have shown the boat asprovided withtwo sets of. upper and lower rollers cal position, theupper traction-rollers on both sides of the boat rest upon the rails ofthe track. When the'hoat is tilted by the pressure of the wind, theupper rollers along one side of the boat are caused to engage one of therails of the track and the lower rollers along the other side of theboatare caused to engage the other rail of the track.

In the formshown in Figs. 5 and 6 I have gagement with the track, theballs 14 being fit! d te have a limited rolling movement in raceway's 15in the rails of the track. In this form the boat is provided with adepending portion 18,: the lower end of which is provided stoprails 18or 19 for limiting the tilting movements of the boat.

By the arrangement of the straight and zigzag tracks the boa is enabledwhen there is wind to he propellhdalong the tracks by manipulating thesheets leading to the difierent sails.

boat can uot'be propelled back and forth along the .-straight track, itwill permit the boat to be propelled along the straight track in one ityto each other, and at each end of the struo-' propelling-sailslO- w'i than antifrietion-roller l7, fitted .to engage If the wind is in such adirection that the bringing them into alinement with the track When theboat is traveling along in a vertishown the boat as having aball-bearing endirection and then propelled along the zigzag track afterit has been shifted onto the same by one of the turn-tables. v

It so desired, the tracks may be made undulating, as shown in Fig. 7, soas to cause the boat to rise and fall as it is forced along the track bythe pressure of the wind.

It is evident that numerous changes might be resorted to in theconstruction, form, and

structure having a straight track, a zigzag track and a sail-boat fittedto travel along the same.

2. An aerial device comprising an elevated structure having a straighttrack, a zigzag track, a sail-boat fitted to travel along the same andturn-tables for bringing the boat into communication with one or theother of thetracks;

3. An aerial device comprising an elevated way or track and a sail-boatfitted to travel along the same, the said sail-boat having a tiltingmovement on the way or track and means for positively limiting thetilting movement of the said boat.

4. An aerial device comprising an elevated Way or track, a sail-boatfitted to travel along the same and an antifric'tion connection betweenthe boat and track comprising a set of upper and lower rollers on each.side-of the boat in position to engage the top or bottom sides of therails of the track. v

5. An aerial device comprising an elevated way or track, a sailboatfitted to travel along the same and an antifriction connection betweenthe boat and'track comprising a plurality of sets of upper and lowerrollers on each side of the boatin top or bottom sides of the rails ofthe track.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 24th day of May, 1902.

CHARLES A. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, HENRY THIEME.

position to engage the

